Prime Minister Rejects Fa’asaleleaga 2 MP’s Apology

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 12 March 2026: Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt has rejected Fa’asalelelaga 2 Member of Parliament Vaaelua Senetenari Samau’s apology during Parliament sitting last night.

Vaaelua took the floor after Gagaemauga 1 MP, Lavea Solomona reached out to the Prime Minister to lift the ban on Faasaleleaga’s $1 million Development Project. Lavea made the statement during the debate of the District Development Authority Bill now before parliament.

Vaaelua said he was not ready to speak at the time, especially the current situation where his districts Development Council is being closed by the Prime Minister. He then apologised and informed parliament that Tofilau Lino who issued threats against Laauli (in an HRPP public meeting) had been dealt with.

Laauli responded that he was not going to be distracted by the smooth words and told Vaaelua that he knows of everything said regarding the districts’ decisions.

“The district wanted to come and meet but it was you and Gatoloaifaana Amataga (former MP) who postponed it, I am still waiting to meet and consult, and I have not closed my door, but the threats issued at Peseta are serious,” said Laauli.

The threats were issued publicly by a high chief of the district, Tofilau Lino during an HRPP meeting at its headquarters at Petesa after the district representatives led by Tofilau Lino met with Laauli at the PM’s office about the internal issues within the Districts Development Council.

The PM told the district to go back and sort out their internal grievances and if they come to a decision, then come back and let him know.

The district agreed. However, instead of honouring the agreement with the PM, the district spokesperson Tofilau Lino delivered that decision at the HRPP meeting at Petesa last month.

It was at that meeting at the HRPP headquarters that was streamed live that Tofilau asked who Laauli was? And that if Laauli has a big heart, then come to Savaii where he (Tofilau) would be waiting.

Laauli believes that it was at Peseta that the Faasaleleaga 2 issue was politicised.

A decision that prompted Cabinet to discontinue and stopped the Faasaleleaga 2 $1M District Development Project to date.

In a press conference later, Laauli said if the district has decided to air their decision at the HRPP meeting, then they should go to HRPP to get any assistance to help them, and he decided to close the district’s development project.

He argued that the issue was presented and discussed by the district chiefs in a formal meeting in his office. And that’s where they should return to discuss what decision they have come regarding the future of their District Development Council and development project.

Last night, Laauli reminded Vaaelua that the things said at Peseta against him as the leader of the country were serious and that he had been asking for Faasaleleaga to meet with him.

Vaaelua apologised to Laauli and denied involvement in what the PM referred to in influencing the districts decision to come meet with him as first agreed.

Laauli reminded Vaaelua, that he is the country’s eight PM and the third Prime Minister from Savaii and it was sad to see that one of the Savaii districts is standing against him.

Laauli said he and his district had supported former Prime Minister Tofilau Eti Alesana right until his death and now Tofilau’s district is standing against him as the third Prime Minister from Savaii.

He quoted the Samoan saying about the man who destroyed in his own canoe – “Ua toe pu le vaa o Ti’a ia Ti’a.”

It was when another Savaii Cabinet Minister, Seuamuli Fasi Toma of Gagaemauga 2 took the floor and reminded the Speaker that the Faasalaleleaga issue is painful especially to MPs and Cabinet Ministers from Savaii.

He also reminded that parliament was moving away from the debate on the Bill to establish the District Development Authority and suggested to move on and leave the Fa’asaleleaga issue to another time.

The Prime Minister again stated that his door is still open. The Speaker ruled to end the discussion on the Faasaleleaga 2 issue and return to the deliberation of the Bill.